Centre-battery ship
Encyclopedia
The centre battery ship or casemate ship (continental navies) was a development of the (high-freeboard
) broadside ironclad of the 1860s. The central battery ships had their main guns concentrated to the middle of the ship in an armoured citadel. The concentration of armament amidships meant the ship could be shorter and handier than a broadside type like previous warships. In this manner the design could maximize the thickness of armour
in a limited area while still carrying a significant broadside
. These ships meant the end of the armored frigates with their full-length gun decks.
In the UK, the man behind the design was the newly appointed Chief Constructor of the Royal Navy
, Edward James Reed
. The previous Royal Navy ironclad designs, represented by the HMS Warrior
, had proven to be seaworthy, fast under power and sail, but their armor could be easily penetrated by more modern guns. The first central battery ship was HMS Bellerophon
of 1865. Great Britain built a total of 18 central battery ships before turret
s became common on high-freeboard ships in the 1880s.
The 2nd British central battery ship, HMS Hercules (1868)
, served as model for the Austrian navy, starting with their first design (6,100 tons) designed by Joseph von Romako and launched in 1871. The Austrian SMS Kaiser (1871)—not to be confused with German SMS Kaiser (1874)—was built along a similar design, although the hull had been converted from a wooden ship, and it was slightly smaller (5,800 tons). The Austrian central battery design was pushed further with (7,100 tons) and (5,900 tons), which had double-decked casemates; after studying the Battle of Lissa (1866)
, Romako designed these so more guns could shoot forward. Three older broadside ironclads of the Kaiser Max class (3600 tons: Kaiser Max, Don Juan D'Austria, and Prinz Eugen) were also officially "converted" to casemate design, although they were mostly built from scratch. The largest design yet was the , later renamed to Mars when was commissioned. The Austrian records distinguish between the category of older broadside ironclads and the newer designs using the words Panzerfregatten (armored frigates) and respectively Casemattschiffe (casemate ships).
The German navy had two large casemate ships (about 8800 tons) of the Kaiser class built in UK shipyards. The first ironclad of the Greek navy, Basileos Giorgios (1867), was also built in the UK; at 1700 tons, it was a minimalist casemate design having only two large 9in guns, and two small 20 pounders. The Italians had only one casemate ship built, the Venezia (1873), converted from broadside during construction.
The disadvantage of the centre-battery was that, while more flexible than the broadside, each gun still had a relatively restricted field of fire and few guns could fire directly ahead. The centre-battery ships were soon succeeded by turreted warships
.
Freeboard (nautical)
In sailing and boating, freeboardmeans the distance from the waterline to the upper deck level, measured at the lowest point of sheer where water can enter the boat or ship...
) broadside ironclad of the 1860s. The central battery ships had their main guns concentrated to the middle of the ship in an armoured citadel. The concentration of armament amidships meant the ship could be shorter and handier than a broadside type like previous warships. In this manner the design could maximize the thickness of armour
Armour
Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an object, individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment or action...
in a limited area while still carrying a significant broadside
Broadside
A broadside is the side of a ship; the battery of cannon on one side of a warship; or their simultaneous fire in naval warfare.-Age of Sail:...
. These ships meant the end of the armored frigates with their full-length gun decks.
In the UK, the man behind the design was the newly appointed Chief Constructor of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, Edward James Reed
Edward James Reed
Sir Edward James Reed , KCB, FRS, was a British naval architect, author, politician, and railroad magnate. He was the Chief Constructor of the Royal Navy from 1863 until 1870...
. The previous Royal Navy ironclad designs, represented by the HMS Warrior
HMS Warrior (1860)
HMS Warrior was the first iron-hulled, armour-plated warship, built for the Royal Navy in response to the first ironclad warship, the French Gloire, launched a year earlier....
, had proven to be seaworthy, fast under power and sail, but their armor could be easily penetrated by more modern guns. The first central battery ship was HMS Bellerophon
HMS Bellerophon (1865)
HMS Bellerophon was a central battery ironclad built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1860s.-Design and description:In this ship, designed by Sir Edward Reed, the power-to-weight ratio was increased; the long rows of guns on the broadside were replaced by a small number of guns, centrally placed, of...
of 1865. Great Britain built a total of 18 central battery ships before turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
s became common on high-freeboard ships in the 1880s.
The 2nd British central battery ship, HMS Hercules (1868)
HMS Hercules (1868)
HMS Hercules was a central-battery ironclad of the Royal Navy in the Victorian era, and was the first warship to mount a main armament of calibre guns....
, served as model for the Austrian navy, starting with their first design (6,100 tons) designed by Joseph von Romako and launched in 1871. The Austrian SMS Kaiser (1871)—not to be confused with German SMS Kaiser (1874)—was built along a similar design, although the hull had been converted from a wooden ship, and it was slightly smaller (5,800 tons). The Austrian central battery design was pushed further with (7,100 tons) and (5,900 tons), which had double-decked casemates; after studying the Battle of Lissa (1866)
Battle of Lissa (1866)
The Battle of Lissa took place on 20 July 1866 in the Adriatic Sea near the Dalmatian island of Lissa and was a decisive victory for an outnumbered Austrian Empire force over a superior Italian force...
, Romako designed these so more guns could shoot forward. Three older broadside ironclads of the Kaiser Max class (3600 tons: Kaiser Max, Don Juan D'Austria, and Prinz Eugen) were also officially "converted" to casemate design, although they were mostly built from scratch. The largest design yet was the , later renamed to Mars when was commissioned. The Austrian records distinguish between the category of older broadside ironclads and the newer designs using the words Panzerfregatten (armored frigates) and respectively Casemattschiffe (casemate ships).
The German navy had two large casemate ships (about 8800 tons) of the Kaiser class built in UK shipyards. The first ironclad of the Greek navy, Basileos Giorgios (1867), was also built in the UK; at 1700 tons, it was a minimalist casemate design having only two large 9in guns, and two small 20 pounders. The Italians had only one casemate ship built, the Venezia (1873), converted from broadside during construction.
The disadvantage of the centre-battery was that, while more flexible than the broadside, each gun still had a relatively restricted field of fire and few guns could fire directly ahead. The centre-battery ships were soon succeeded by turreted warships
Turret ship
Turret ships were a 19th century type of warship, the earliest to have their guns mounted in a revolving gun turret, instead of a broadside arrangement....
.